GDT: 3/8/18 - 7:30PM EDT - New York Rangers vs Tampa Bay

[Fabiobest]

Great win, I can go to sleep happy!
See you Saturday

 

[Steazy Doo]

People need to start coming to terms with the fact Sustr is better then Koekkoek

 

[DaBolts]

People need to start coming to terms with the fact Sustr is better then Koekkoek

Isn't that like saying self-inflicted alcohol poisoning is better than cyanide poisoning?

 

[Matt Watson]

People need to start coming to terms with the fact Sustr is better then Koekkoek

That is very true. Time for a change of scenery for KK. TB will not be his home.

 

[Hinterland]

They don't care. Watch what happens in the playoffs, the games right now are a bad measuring stick.

Well, other top teams give their all to build confidence and put themselves in a good position for the playoffs. If I'm Cooper, I'd scratch anybody not playing at 100%.

 

[DaBolts]

It was a win. That's all that matters. But the choice of who to keep out of the playoffs is going to be tough. Erne, Cirelli, Peca, etc. have all made a case to be up here, but I think it's between Erne and Cirelli who stays through the run (hopefully both).

 

[Hinterland]

People need to start coming to terms with the fact Sustr is better then Koekkoek

I don't think so but it doesn't matter. They should both be scratched during the playoffs.

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

Well, other top teams give their all to build confidence and put themselves in a good position for the playoffs. If I'm Cooper, I'd scratch anybody not playing at 100%.

I don't think Cooper is that concerned either.

The Bruins games actually mean something, so we'll see how hard they play then.

 

[JoVel]

Well, other top teams give their all to build confidence and put themselves in a good position for the playoffs. If I'm Cooper, I'd scratch anybody not playing at 100%.

People put way too much weight on regular season. Just last year the Preds, who were the last team in the whole league to make the playoffs, almost won the Cup.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Alain Vigneault on the 1st period: "That's as hard as a team has come at us all year. ... there's no doubt they dominated us."

 

[Hinterland]

People put way too much weight on regular season. Just last year the Preds, who were the last team in the whole league to make the playoffs, almost won the Cup.

...and why do you think those Preds are so desperate now to win as many games as possible?

 

[DaBolts]

...and why do you think those Preds are so desperate now to win as many games as possible?

Because they can not afford to give up home ice to Vegas. That's deadly.

 

[The Gongshow]

Tampa likes blowing leads eh?

2 points tho...

 

[T REX]

Nice win. We still seem to let off the gas in the 3rd.

 

[VinikToWinIt]

Missed most of the game - how bad was KK tonight? Confused by some of the comments.

 

[Celtic Note]

When you are up 5-1 and the other team is listless, it’s easy to let off the gas.

 

[AndreRoy]

In defense of Koekkoek look at career TOI in minutes:

Sustr: 5220
Dotchin: 1386
Sergachev: 1063
Koekkoek: 881

Yes, Koekkoek can look lost out there at times, but the guy has had very little playing time in comparison with our other lower level defensemen and what playing time he has gotten has been irregular, unsheltered, and often with subpar partners; after bad games and even good ones he’ll find himself sitting in the press box for weeks at a time. Meanwhile Sustr has been with the team for years and still sucks, Dotchin has played regularly with Hedman and still sucks, and Sergachev has enjoyed regular and sheltered minutes with Stralman. The Lightning have completely botched Koekkoek’s development.

 

[Matt Watson]

In defense of Koekkoek look at career TOI in minutes:

Sustr: 5220
Dotchin: 1386
Sergachev: 1063
Koekkoek: 881

Yes, Koekkoek can look lost out there at times, but the guy has had very little playing time in comparison with our other lower level defensemen and what playing time he has gotten has been irregular, unsheltered, and often with subpar partners; after bad games and even good ones he’ll find himself sitting in the press box for weeks at a time. Meanwhile Sustr has been with the team for years and still sucks, Dotchin has played regularly with Hedman and still sucks, and Sergachev has enjoyed regular and sheltered minutes with Stralman. The Lightning have completely botched Koekkoek’s development.

Pretty weak argument. His ice time is limited because he plays like he played tonight. Lost.

 

[Sky04]

In defense of Koekkoek look at career TOI in minutes:

Sustr: 5220
Dotchin: 1386
Sergachev: 1063
Koekkoek: 881

Yes, Koekkoek can look lost out there at times, but the guy has had very little playing time in comparison with our other lower level defensemen and what playing time he has gotten has been irregular, unsheltered, and often with subpar partners; after bad games and even good ones he’ll find himself sitting in the press box for weeks at a time. Meanwhile Sustr has been with the team for years and still sucks, Dotchin has played regularly with Hedman and still sucks, and Sergachev has enjoyed regular and sheltered minutes with Stralman. The Lightning have completely botched Koekkoek’s development.

There's only one season (last year) where he played well enough to make it onto opening night roster, he deserved to be in the AHL every other year and got small call-ups. He didn't outplay the AHL level in any of his early years nor did he make it impossible to leave him off the roster. And when he did get a chance last year when called up he blew his shot and they sent him back down, they didn't completely botch anything except the draft pick- he's had tons of oppertunity this year to take the job as well.

 

[These Are The Days]

Because they can not afford to give up home ice to Vegas. That's deadly.

I truly do not see what is such a big deal about the Knights home ice advantage. It's really THAT hard to not go on all night benders in Vegas during the playoffs? I'm not saying that was your implication, I'm only trying to say it's deadly if you allow it to be

 

[Stammertime91]

First period was amazing. Not sure the Rangers knew what to do with that. Cirelli and Erne played their best in a Lightning sweater in the first. They played fantastic tonight. Still laughing at the "he has no assists" argument for Erne. He's been more of an impact and provided a spark on the forecheck, something we lack, more than that of Paquette (who also played great tonight) all season long. I would not scratch either one until they look in over their head. Cirelli is very smart and has already chipped in. Erne on the other hand is getting a bit more confortable. He doesn't just wrap it back to the point or backhand it down low every time, he's actually trying to make plays. Looks like his confidence is up. Hoping he can grow on this one.

Nice to see Vlad again.

 

[DFC]

Well, we phoned a big chunk of the game in, but I'm not too bothered by it. Better to do it with a 5-1 lead than a 2-1 lead, which we've been known to do.

I like the lines right now, particularly that 3rd line. Those kids are hungry. Might as well put them together and feed off the energy.

 

[Rschmitz]

There were reports that teams were asking for Koekkoek earlier this year. Unless the offers were for cap dumps and 7th round picks, pretty lame if we want him but don't want him

 

[God King Fudge]

I'm happy we won but I still feel a bit empty? The first half of that game was absolute domination. Then it just seems like we kind of just figured 5 would do it and decided to hold on for dear life for the second half.

 

[LightningStrikes]

I'm happy we won but I still feel a bit empty? The first half of that game was absolute domination. Then it just seems like we kind of just figured 5 would do it and decided to hold on for dear life for the second half.

Can't really blame 'em IMO. 2 points were pretty much safe, why keep the foot on the gas and risk injuries. I mean, it would be nice to see them go out and play a full 60 minute game but with the playoffs looming over our heads it's all about results, getting points, securing #1 seed and not getting injured - no matter how pretty or as seen lately no matter how ugly and close it gets.

From a business point of view this could kinda harm the product but with the league's top point getter, the league's best offense, one of the best goalies and defensemen, as long as they stay #1 and ensure a playoff spot most if not all fans will come back, even if they only get half a game for their money during the rest of the regular season.